As expected, experienced Russian team won their fourth ever trophy in the XIIIth Olympiad for Blind and Visually Impaired Players held 16th-24th October 2008 in Heraklion, Crete. Ukraine took silver ahead of surprise Spain. Incumbent Poland came in unlucky fourth.

With 164 players from 34 countries representing all four continental federation the 2008 Olympiad was the biggest event ever held under auspices of IBCA. The Olympiad took place in the beautiful Crete. The playing conditions and the atmosphere were very good.

Team Russia were impregnable from the very start. They took clear first place with 8 wins and one draw. Ukraine fought hard for second stopping Poland with a victorous 2-all draw in the last round. Spain fortunately sneaked in between the two to take their first ever Olympic medal. The best individual result was achieved by three players including a woman: WIM L.Zsiltsova-Lisenko, R.C.Hengles and S.Udupa (8/9).

It is important to point the brand new, official FIDE tie-breaking system was used for the first time. It looks good job at first glance.

official website :: tournament info :: full results

Let me start with a brisk question. Imagine your are brilliant chess talent originating from Northern Ireland. Which federation will FIDE allow you to play for? The home one? Obviously not, that one isn't FIDE member. Great Britain, UK? None of these actually exists. England? They won't accept your application. The answer actually is Ireland. Yes, different federation, different country. An obvious absurd, but not for FIDE bureaucracy who consistently express their fear of avalanche of requests from partly recognized quasi-states once Ulster's application would be accepted. Indeed, contemporary FIDE rules do not allow non-IOC federations be admitted, but there have been many in the past who had once been accepted and nobody ever have thought of kicking them out. Guernsey, Jersey and Faroe Islands are just a few examples standing in stark contrast with Northern Ireland's impotence.

Here's excerpt from 77th FIDE congress in Turin, May 2006:
(...) Mr Makropoulos said that the application was received. The Secretariat stopped it. In our statutes it is stated that there should be one Federation per country. Great Britain is the only exception. Scotland, Wales, Jersey and Guernsey were admitted before the Statutes were changed. We decided not to open membership to more than one federation per country. If we open to Ulster then we will have to start the discussion for other countries like Russia or US. If the General Assembly decides to have a discussion we should decide whether to open to all countries that apply.
Otherwise we should stop this discussion. In any case it is not in the agenda. (...)

GM Nigel Short, famous from his affection to withdraw all UK federations from FIDE and create all-British chess federation says the following:
"In 2005 the anachronistically named British Chess Federation finally acknowledged reality by becoming the English Chess Federation. The piecemeal disintegration of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland began at the Folkestone Olympiad in 1933, when a Scottish team made its first appearance alongside the BCF team, possibly, in that depressed era, to bolster the numbers in an otherwise underrepresented event. The remaining UK glue held together until the Skopje Olympiad of 1972, when the Welsh dragon breathed its fiery flame in the international arena. Guernsey and Jersey followed later still.

The Ulster Chess Union's application to join FIDE was shelved at Turin this year. The motive for this rebuff is transparently one of crude political expediency. Either FIDE must insist on a single UK federation (unpalatable for the powers that be, as it would ruffle feathers and cost votes), or it should allow all constituent parts of the country to become members. Dispassionately speaking, you cannot pick and choose in such circumstances; alas, logic rarely counts when vested interests are at stake."

Chess players from Ulster cannot get how it all comes about. It might be understandable that there should be one British team, not four. But once everybody split up many years ago there is no reason to keep the remaining piece in detention. Here's what David McAllister, chess historian and UCU chronicler writes:

"FIDE should stop this absurd stance that treats Northern Ireland like a vassal state of the Irish Republic when in fact they their nationhood has long been independent. FIDE should grant the one remaining part of the UK representation when it has already done so for the other three (England, Scotland and Wales). Indeed England has relinquished any pretence it had to represent the other Home nations by dropping the word British in favour of English in its federation title. Note Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the UK but are British dependencies. Let FIDE explain why they feel unable to complete a process they allowed to happen for the other British nations and why we should be in servitude to a foreign chess federation."

More readings are available here: ChessBase, ChessBase part 2

The forthcoming FIDE congress might be a turning point. This is what you can do to express your support:
- add comment below with your letter of support
- vote in our poll (on the right)
- send FIDE e-mail expressing your position webmaster@fide.com
- if you are a delatage or an official you may lobby it through FIDE authorities
- deliver fiery speech at the FIDE Congress

Please contact Ulster Chess Union for details. This is how they see the issue.

India won the gold medal after defeating England 3.5-0.5 and emerged victorious in the Youth U16 Chess Olympiad 2008 in Turkey after their triumph in World Junior Championship, confirming the good performance started by IM Harika and GM Gupta a few weeks ago at the World Junior Championships.

The important game of the last round was between Russia and Azerbaijan. Vasif Durarbeyli defeated Oleg Yaksin on the second board, Anastasia Bodnaruk and Ilia Iljuishenok defeated Mammadov and Kazimova, but the 2,5:1,5 overall victory was not sufficient for the top seeds to win the gold medal since they were surprised by India who defeated England with 3.5-0.5.

Philippines defeated ISEM 3-1 to get the bronze medal. Despite the last round suprising draw with Zeytinoglu (1883), GM Wesley So was the key to Phillipines 3rd place. The young talent managed to win the gold medal at board 1 and to add yet another 15 ELO points to his rating in his chase for the 2650 barrier (after breaking the 2600 a month ago).

"The defeat to Turkey-A by 1.5-2.5 was a shocker, as we enjoyed good positions on all the four boards." - said coach R.B. Ramesh. Scoring eight victories including some big wins in the end, India won the World Youth Chess Olympiad for the second time in a row. The high point was India's huge 3.5-0.5 win against the top seeds Russia in the second round.

Two Indians got extra gold medals besides the team medals. They are Sethuraman and Shyam Sundar for best performances on the second and third boards. Only Adhiban had played in the previous gold medal winning team of 2007. The entire team, coach Ramesh and Trainer Mr. K. Visweswaran were presented flowers, garlands and sweets and the occasion was festive.

Ramesh said the success was a collective team effort. His gamble to play on with Adhiban after four successive defeats seemed risky but worked well. "He was playing well and blundered after winning a piece and also had some health problems." - said Ramesh.

Results: India 28.5, Russia 28.5, The Philippines 27, Azerbaijan 24.5, Armenia 24, Georgia 24

/ reports based on news from chessdom.com and Indian Chess Fed /

see tournament website
see full results on olimpbase.org

"Russia, lead on by world championship candidate Vladimir Kramnik, will participate in the Chess Olympiad with the strongest team ever to take part in a team competition" - announced First Mayor of the City of Dresden, Dr. Lutz Vogel, welcoming the Board of Trustees of the Chess Olympiad 2008.

With Kramnik and his team collegues Alexander Morozevich, Peter Svidler, Alexander Grischuk and Dmitry Jakowenko the first five players of the current Russian FIDE rating list are about to arrive, having an incredible ELO average of 2.750 points.

"Even the current world champion will come" - added Dr. Vogel later on. Joining Viswanathan Anand are the strongest Indian players. In this succession also fits Hungary, bringing along Peter Leko, Judit Polgar (the world’s strongest women) and Zoltan Almasi.

Regarding registrations of the national federations Dresden, with 133 registrations four months prior to the event, is on a good path. At the past Olympiad in Torina 146 were registered immediately before the beginning of the tournament. Among the preregistered are further well-known chess nations, but also some exotic ones like Trinidad and Tobago or the British Virgin Islands. Approximately 1.350 participants of the 2008 Olympiad are yet know by name.

It takes courage to announce the nomiation of teams so much in advance of the final possible registration deadline 12 September 2008, complements Dresden’s First Mayor and addresses the Board of Trustees: "Just like in the game of chess, decisions always have to be made. On this account, let me thank you for your decision to support the Chess Olympiad." The curatorship of the Chess Olympiad is composed of high-ranking representatives of politics, economy, sports and culture.

On the occasion of the constituting meeting the president of the German Chess Association, Professor Dr. Baron Robert Klaus von Weizsäcker was credited to sign the city’s guest book. The head association of German chess players is also looking forward to the immediate organization phase, for which the in 1877 founded institution with its 100.000 members in 2.700 clubs has been fostering supportive events and activities since 2004. "I am sure the the Chess Olympiad in Dresden will be a great success and expect, that the media feedback will have a positive effect on the development of membership numbers" - explains Weizsäcker.

After the constituting meeting mayor Winfired Lehmann received invited guests to the official opening ceremony of the ZMD Chess Festival, which started Saturday, 19 July, 3 pm at the RAMADA hotel in Dresden-Leubnitz. The organizers of the tournament have been arrangeing chess tournaments since 1992 in Dresden, for instance numerous European and German championships. This year, the association hit a new participation record, having 320 pre-registrations. Thus, the Open was almost fully booked out; late registrations were only possible via substitute lists.

For the opening ceremony DSB-President Weizsäcker and Dr. Gerhard Köhler for the Chess Olympiad Co-Sponsor OrwoNet agreed to play a party of open air chess before grandmasters and national team members Elisabeth Pähtz and Falko Bindrich demonstrated a thrilling simultaneous match. Moreover, 12-year old Filiz Osmanodja was honoured for her second double German championship title, isochronically achieved in the open and girl’s section of her age group.

Ignatius Leong, Chief Arbiter of the Chess Olympiad and General Secretary of the world chess association FIDE, surprised journalists at a press conference Tuesday, 03 June 2008.”We will have considerable renewals regarding the regulations in the 2008 Olympiad in Dresden,” the man from Singapore declares. For the first time, federations have to nominate their candidates until the fixed date of 12 September 2008.

So far, changes in team compositions had been possible until a few hours prior to the beginning of the tournament. Moreover, FIDE also brings up the vexatious topic of early draws. Once before, there existed the rule that no draw is allowed before a certain number of moves had been made. This paragraph was violated by former world champion Bobby Fischer - without penalty. Now, the new rule states that no draws will be allowed before the 30th move. But the most important change is, however, that all players have to be at their table exactly at the beginning of play to shake hands, just like in any other sports, or else they will lose the match. Chess players have yet allowed themselves the luxury of being late up to one hour.

Even before these changes Dresden took on the title of being a ‘Reform Olympiad’. For instance, the number of rounds to be played was reduced from 14 to 11, match points are privileged over game points for team valuation, women teams were extended to 4 players and the number of reserve players diminished to one.

Leong gave mark ‘excellent’ to the organizers for their perfect preparations. Dresden is far ahead of time with the planning of the event and proves ideal playing conditions. ‘Further steps promise fantastic conditions for the chess autumn in Dresden,’ also states the experienced tournament organizer.

/ taken from www.fide.com /

The Philippines finished strongly as it started, beating Myanmar, 4.5-1.5, in the 12th and final round to rule the first “RP-Myanmar Dual Match” chess tournament at the Lake Garden Hotel over the weekend.

Overall, the Filipinos finished the tough, 12-round tournament with 46.5 points against the Burmese’s 25.5 points.

Except in the 11th and penultimate round, the Filipinos dominated all rounds.
Myanmar averted a shutout by edging the Philippines, 3.5-2.5, in the 11 th round thanks to the lone victory by FM Kyaw Lin Naing over Andador. All five other matches were agreed drawn.

Nolte emerged as the Filipinos’ leading scorer with 10 points on eight wins and four draws.

Gonzales was a close second with nine points on six wins and six draws, while Barbosa was third with eight points on six wins, four draws and two losses.

Other Filipino scorers were Andador with 7.5 points on six wins, three draws and three losses; Dino Ballecer with 6.5 points on two wins, nine draws and one loss; and Reggire Olay with 5.5 points on two wins, seven draws and three losses.

GM Win Lay Zaw, at 45 the most senior member of the six-man Myanmar team, leads the way with seven points on four wins, six draws and two losses. IM Aung Aung finished with five points on two wins, six draws and four losses. IM Zaw Htun Wynn, the highest-placed Burrmese player in the recent Subic Open, has 4.5 points two wins, five draws and five losses.

The other Burmese players were: IM Oo Kyaw Nay, 3.5 points ( 0-7-5 win-draw-loss); FM Kyaw Lin Naing, 3.5 points ( 1-5-6 win-draw-loss) ; and FM Kyaw Soe Kyaw, two points ( 0-4-8 win-draw-loss).

May 26 - 31, 2008, Tagaytay City, The Philippines - Myanmar 46.5-25.5

See detailed results on NCF Philippines site (no games available)

Statistical note: as expected, Myanmar players performed much worse than Elo predictions. Given Myanmar's average Elo was 2496 compared to Filipino 2353, predicted result of 72 game match was ca. 50-22 in favour of Myanmar. The 25.5-46.5 loss rates them at 2243, well 250 Elo points below nominal level.

It high time to find some free time to match the chess history quiz for your idle amusement. This time you are going to cope with 12 questions testing your knowledge of history of continental team chess championships (6 for Euro tch, 3 for Asia, 2 for the Americas and 1 for Africa). The questions are usually quite hard, but beware! - all of the answers are somewhere inside the database. Have you performed badly - it is more than certain you did not study OlimpBase archives as dilligent as you should!

You are kindly asked to provide with your nickname (or real name if you wish) to make it possible to add your result to the top score list. Your email will be kept strictly confidential, so don't worry, no third party will get it. Since we assume our quizzes should not be subject of hacking or cheating there is neither CAPTCHA filter nor IP check tool installed. Please submit only once. If you like it and want more quizzes please leave your proposal as a comment below.

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1. Which of the following teams never took part in the Panamerican tch?
		A. Netherlands Antilles
		B. Bolivia
		C. Surinam
		D. Ecuador
2. Which English player beat Karpov with black after 1 e4 a6?! during 1980 Euro tch?
		A. Nunn
		B. Miles
		C. Basman
		D. Stean
		E. Speelman
3. Legendary Filipino GM Eugenio Torre lost only 1 of his 43 Asian tch games played between 1977 and 1993. To whom?
		A. Liew Chee Meng
		B. Utut Adianto
		C. Alon Greenfeld
		D. Ian Rogers
		E. Manuel Aaron
4. The 1957-1983 European championship finals were preceded by preliminary groups. Which is the only team ever to win all of its preliminary group matches and fail to qualify having inferior game point record?
		A. Hungary in 1961
		B. Czechoslovakia in 1970
		C. Yugoslavia in 1977
		D. West Germany in 1980
		E. Bulgaria in 1983
5. One of Asian tch's was the tightest competition ever at this level. Top six teams finished within a point! Which one was it?
		A. 1977
		B. 1983
		C. 1991
		D. 1999
		E. 2003
6. Which country took surprise fourth in 1973 European tch in Bath?
		A. Spain
		B. Switzerland
		C. East Germany
		D. Sweden
		E. Poland
7. Which African team came last in 2003 women's continental tch but was invited to take part in Women's World tch anyway to finish at 0/36?
		A. Botswana
		B. Algeria
		C. Eritrea
		D. Egypt
		E. Nigeria
8. How many games did Tigran Petrosian lose in all of his eight Euro tch appearances (1957-83)?
		A. none!
		B. 1
		C. 2
		D. 3
9. What was the only European country to participate in all eight preliminary Euro tch stages (1957-83) and never qualify?
		A. Ireland
		B. Switzerland
		C. Austria
		D. Netherlands
		E. Spain
10. One move from game Greenfeld-X from Haifa 1989 Euro tch was named one of 110 most fantastic moves ever played. Who was X?
		A. K.Mokry
		B. R.Vaganian
		C. F.Hellers
		D. J.Polgar
		E. F.Gheorghiu
11. Argentina won premier Panamerican tch in 1971 with dazzling 25.5/28 result. Which two players scored a perfect 100%?
		A. Najdorf & Sanguinetti
		B. Sanguinetti & Panno
		C. Panno & Schweber
		D. Quinteros & Schweber
		E. Panno & Quinteros
12. Which of the following teams never won Asian tch trophy, although they were on podium as much as seven times?
		A. India
		B. China
		C. Uzbekistan
		D. Kazakhstan
		E. Indonesia

See how good (or bad?) other people did :: statistics of this quiz :: statistics of all quizzes published so far

There is a number of international team tournaments scheduled for forthcoming months:

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The 27th Mitropa Cup will be held from 24 May to 4 June, 2008 in Olbia, Italy at the Archaeologic Museum. The organizer of this event is Italian Chess Federation. The tournament will be organized with two separate sections, for men and women.

The participants will be the chess federations of Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. The organiser is the European Chess Union. Each team will be composed of four men plus one reserve (for men`s section), two women plus one reserve (for women`s section) and one team captain. Time control will be 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes to finish the game, with 30 seconds increment after each move starting from move 1. Each team is provided full board accommodation in one triple room and three double rooms in Hotel **** stars. Additional single rooms and accommodation for accompanying persons can be organised.

The Web site of the tournament. Read FIDE note here.
Downloads: Regulations (pdf), Registration Form (xls)

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The annual European Youth Team Championship will take place in Szeged, Hungary, 13th-22nd June. The championship is open for players born after January 1st, 1990. All European National Federations affiliated to FIDE/ECU are kindly invited to participate in the championship. Each European National Federation affiliated to FIDE/ECU has the right to be represented by one or more boy's team of four players and one reserve and by one or more girl's team of two players and one reserve player.

The Hungarian Chess Federation intends to provide boys and girls during their vacation for a competition in order to promote their chess development, and - at the same time - for organized holidays in a pleasant youth summer resort at river Tisza. The General Assembly of European Chess Federation (ECU) was in favour of having such a European Youth Team Championships U-18. This tournament is declared as official European event.

The tournament will be seven round swiss. Time control: 90 30. Final standings will be decided by game points.

The Web site of the tournament. Read FIDE note here.
Downloads: Invitation (pdf), Registration Form (xls)

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The 4th World School Chess Teams Championship will be held in Pardubice, the Czech Republic from 9th to 17th July 2008. The organizers of this championship are: FIDE, The International School Chess Union, The Chess Federation of the Czech Republic, AVE-KONTAKT Pardubice agency. The Children Clubs Championship will be organized within the frame of the World School Championship. The tournaments for school chess teams will be in categories U10, U12, U14, U16.

Each national federation may enter an unlimited number of school teams and clubs. Team composition for School Team Tournament is four pupils from the same school and in the same age`s group; any combination of boys and girls is possible. The tournament will be organized in four age categories - U10, U12, U14 and U16.

The event will be seven round Swiss. The time rate should be 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1. FIDE shall award the title of FIDE Candidate Master to each player of the winning team, subject to the individual achieving 50% from games played.

Read FIDE note here.
Downloads: General regulations (pdf)

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The 38th Chess Olympiad will take place in Dresden, Germany, the Congress Centre from 12th till 25th November. The organisers are the City of Dresden and the German Chess Federation (DSB). The World Chess Olympiad is open to all Federations affiliated to FIDE as members, each of which can nominate one team for the open and the women’s section, respectively. For the first time in the history women's teams will play at four boards. The number of players in both men's and women's teams was set to five (four players and one reserve). The event was shortened to 11 rounds. Time control is 40 moves in 90 minutes and 30 minutes more to finish the game. There is an increment of 30 seconds added on for every move from move 1.

As for April 15th, as much as 75 nations pre-registered, including newcomer team of Maledives. There are 150 men's and 120 women's team expected with over 1,500 players on the board. The event will be assisted by ca. 150 arbiters and 400 journalists.

The Web site of the tournament.
Downloads: Pre-tournament bulletin (pdf)